On Saturday afternoon, the Ivolga pleasure boat left a private base near the town of Belgorod-Dnestrovsky into the sea and capsized on its way back.

A preliminary report into the causes of the accident with a passenger boat near the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odessa has revealed that the boat had been overloaded, the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure said on Saturday. Odessa regional Deputy Governor Vladimir Zhmak said high waves and the absence of life jackets led to the deaths.

"Ukraine’s Registry of Shipping says that the motor boat had valid documents allowing it to transport 12 passengers and three crew members," the ministry said in a statement. "However, today the boat left for the sea with 33 passengers and three crew on board, so it was overloaded, almost twice. According to a preliminary report, it was the cause of the tragedy."

By the time of reporting, twelve were announced dead and 23 rescued.

Earlier in the day, the Interior Ministry said a criminal case on violations of the railway, water or air transport safety legislation has been launched.

Sunday, October 18, is announced a day of mourning in the Odessa region.